Rubber chloride composition



Patented July 22, 1941 RUBBER CHLORIDE COMPOSITION Clayton Olin North, deceased, late of Charleston,

W. Va., by Margaret R. North, administratrix.

. Charleston, W. Va., assignor to The Raolin Corporation, Charleston, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia,

No Drawing. Original application February 5,v 1936, Serial No. 62,547. Divided and this application July 7,1938, Serial No. 218,020

8 Claims. (01. 260-735) of dichlorhydrin, and being a solvent for rubber chloride and miscible in all proportions therewithpanditcomprises methods of making such .compositionsgj all as more fully hereinafter set forth and-asclaimed, I

I This application is a division of application,

Seria1 No.62,5 l7, filed February 5, 1936 (now Patent No.1 2,148,830)

In said application, Serial No. 62,547, there is described an improved method of making rubberchloride, wherein anon-aqueous solution of rubber is boiled under (a reflux open to the atmosphere to reduce the viscosity of the solution and to elminate moisture therefrom. After prolonged boiling-usually for several hours the viscosity reaches a minimum, and water is substantially completely removed from the system. At this stage the rubber is ready for chlorination, which may be effected in the same or some other suitable vessel. Chlorination is most conveniently accomplished by bubbling gaseous chlorinethrough the solution until it is no longer completely taken up. Yellow fumes of chlorine then appear above the solution, or in the effluent from the condenser.

The chlorinated solution contains some uncombine-d chlorine, and hydrochloric acid which is formed as an incident to chlorination. In chlorination, part of the chlorine is directly added to the rubber molecule, and part of it goes in by, substitution, forming hydrochloric acid as, a side product. This acid. and excess chlorine may be largely eliminated by continuing to heat the solution after the supply of chlorine is cut off, but some further step is often necessary to obtain a sufficiently neutral solution. For example, as described in the parent application, finely divided lime may be added and agitated with the solution, with or without further heating; The lime and the salts formed by its reaction with the hydrochloric acid are insoluble in the organic solution of rubber chloride, and may be readily separated by decantation, filtration or the like.

The solution of rubber chloride may then be treated in any desiredmanner to recover the pure rubber chloride therefrom. For example, the rubber chloride may be separated fromthe solvent-usually carbon tetrachloride-by adding hot water, or an alcohol, or a petroleum fraction, or other suitable non-solvent for rubber chloride, to the solution. This separates the rubber chloride, and 'it may be readily removed and dried. i r

1 The dry rubber chloride thus obtained is a1),- plicable-for allthe ordinary andknown uses of rubber chloride. Among other things, it can be dissolved in appropriate solvents to give coating compositions. Rubber chloride issoluble ln but few liquids, afact towhich it owes much of its value as a coatingmaterial in' varnishes and the like. The liquids in which it is soluble include carbon tetrachloride, chlorinatedethanes and some other chlorinated hydrocarbons and various coal tar oils such as benzol, toluol, izylol and the like. These coal tar-oils are, theusual solvents in making varnishes, lacquers and enamels. Such varnishes do not tolerate. any great amount of thinner of a petroleum, nature, such as turpentine substitutefete, but minor amounts may be used. Rubber chloride itself beinga friable brittle solid, it is usual to adda plasticizer of some type to varnish solutions made; therefrom in order to obviate brittleness in the varnishfilm. QIfn making a coating composition which readily dries, to a non-brittle condition, and forms a; more or less flexible, non-brittle. film, it). is somewhat difficult to also obtaina continuous. or rub,- ber chloride in which thelinert and chemically resistant character of the chloride is fully utilized. It is often the case that. the rubberchlorlde remains in the final dried film as a'dispersoid;

as a sort of filler in, a continuumof something else. This is the case in makingvarnishes with rubber chloride and tung oil. Excellent varnishes can be so made, but they are no more resistant than a film, of tung oil without the rubber chloride. a

There is much room for choicein plasticizers. Many of those now in use with rubber chloride, like tung oil, are good softening agents, compatible with the various varnish constituents, but the products obtained are really mixed films, heterophase in character. .-To; obtain the ,valuable properties of rubberechloride tothelfullest extent, the plasticizer must beone whichis capable of dissolving or blending with rubber chloride; of .forming a homogenous single phasenion therewith. Some, of ,the commercial I plasticizers are simply not miscible with ,rubberichloride,

some are miscible but with difficulty and in but limited amount, and others are freely miscible. Tricresyl phosphate, which is often used, belongs to the second class. under the 'usual conditions, it does not go into unitary union with the rubber chloride. The tendency is to make a 2-phase system. 7

It is found that certain particular types of plasticizers miscible with rubber chloride are advantageous in. making varnishes and other coating compositions. They arealso useful in making plastic compositions. l lasticizers of this type may be generically called solvent plasticizers, and this invention contemplates the use of plasticizers of this type.

Solvent plasticizers of the type here contem- In the usual mixtures and plated are capable of dissolving rubber chloride to a liquid, if used in major amounts, producing solutions mobile at ordinary, or slightly elevated, temperatures and with a viscosity depending upon ,that of the plasticizer. Commonly, however, and infthe present invention, there should be used smaller amounts'of the solvent plasticizer; minor amounts-which are sufficient to render the dried coating-non-brittle, the amount and type of swea plasticizer being varied to obtain coatings more-or less'flexible as may be desired.

Ordinarily, it is suflicient in making such improved "coatingcompositions to add to the varnish (solution of rubberehloride) between 2 and lfiflper centpf the selected solvent plasticizer. Theqamount varies somewhat with the particular 'plasticizer-and-the particular character of film desired. The varnishes then yield coatings which idryiand set rapidly to non-brittle films. The rubber chloride content of the varnishes is variableanddepends on the amount of other ingredi- Lentsused, fif:any. For purposes of calculation, .the amount 0f added solvent plasticizer may be referred to' the rubber chloride itself. Generally, "5 to per cent (by weight) of solvent plasticizer on'the rubber chloride will obviate brittleness anjdgiveia desirable type of flexibility to the coating in the absence ofother ingredients havingv asoftening effect.

The solvent plasticizers added in the present invention are liquids or low melting solids permanent in the air and'without substantial vapor tension'at ordinary temperatures. They should be'sufliciently non-volatile to remain in the dried coatingin full amount for an indefinitely long period when exposed to air. They should also be soluble in or'miscible with the thinners or solv nts employed in making rubber chloride varnishes-v r :Itfwasfound that the monoand dieesters which have a relatively high molecular weight and which contain, in addition to one ester group; certain other groups are advantageous sol- .ventpl'asticizers for the present purposes. Those which contain halogen atoms or ether groups are particularly advantageous. Such esters may be obtainedby esterifying various mono and dibasic acids, either. of the aliphatic or aromatic "series, with suitable monohydric aliphatic alcohols. various alcohol-s may be used. It is ad- 'vant'ageous" that the solvent plasticizer contain not more than two ester groups, since tri-esters have relativelyllittlesolvent power for rubber chloride. .For' instance, fatty oils which are trilestersjiglycerides) are. not solvent plasticizers. Dnthe other hand, it was found that the monoanddi-e'sters 'do have solvent action upon rubvchloride and this solvent action is increased as chlorine atoms or'ether groups are introduced into the ester. For instance, methyl palmitate is a solvent plasticizer of only fair power, whereas the palmitate of the ethyl ether of ethylene glycol is a much stronger plasticizer.

Generally, the esters of aliphatic oarboxylic acids are useful, provided the hydrocarbon chains in the ester are sufficient to give a relatively high molecular weight and boiling point to the compound. Aromatic carboxylic acids give useful esters with alcohols containing a substituent halogen atom.

Of many classes of ester compounds which may be employed as solvent plasticizers, the classes given post are particularly advantageous.

I. Esters of glycerin dichlorhydrin The monoand di-esters of this class may be respectively represented by the following formulae:

wherein R represents an alkyl, aralkvl or aryl group and X is a halogen atom.

Such esters may be obtained by condensing 1:3 glycerin dichlorhydrin with an acid-chloride. The acid chlorides of monoand di-carboxylic acids, aliphatic or aromatic, may be employed. Aliphatic acids, either unsaturated or saturated, as acid chlorides, may be condensed with a dichlor-aliphatic mono-alcohol. Acid chlorides of benzoic and phthalic acids are illustrative. Esters obtained from them'with 1:3 glycerin dichlorhydrin have respectively the following formulae A. Saturated aliphatic acids 1. Mono-basic Formula Laurie Myristic EEC-(CH2) 1CHnC O OH Oaproic Palmitic 1:2 to 16 Stearic The formulas given correspond to all of the acids listed opposite them.

Formula 2. Di-basic Succinic HOOC-(CHrh-COOH Glutaric Adipic z=.=2 to 6 B. Unsaturated aliphatic acids v Formula H2O=OH(CH2)COOH Crotonic H H Methyl cro- 1 I tonic IMO-(CH2) zC=C-O OH Nonylenic 1. Mono-basic Acrylic Allyl acetic Undecylcnic Crotonic 'Etthidinc acez=at least 1 2. Di-basic Furnaric Maleic Glutaconic x=0 to 4 ,Also, any of the aliphatic acids may be esterified with ether-mono-hydric aliphatic alcohols to form esters which are useful as solvent plasticizers for rubber chloride. The saturated and unsaturated monocarboxylic aliphatic acids yield esters which are advantageous. This class is the second major class of solvent plasticizers.

II. Aliphatic esters of ether-alcohols These esters may be represented by the following formula:

. H3.C(CH2)zO[(CH2)1O]m-(CH2)r-OC-R wherein a: is at least 1, m is 0 to 2 and R1 may be a group of the following types:

(a) C 2-(CH2)z-CHa wherein an is 0 to 8.

The mono-ether esters may be obtained from the alkyl ethers of. ethylene glycol. The diand tri-ether esters are formed respectively from wherein R2 is an alkyl group,

The esters obtained from the methyl, ethyl, butyl, ethoXy-ethyl, butoxy-ethyl and butoxyethoxy-ethyl ethers of ethylene glycol are advantageous. 1

In United States Patent No. 2,010,560, there are disclosed methods of preparing such ether esters; for instance, the oleates of the mono-, diand tri-ether-ethylene glycols, such as the alkyl ethers of ethanol and the alkoxy-alkyl ethers of ethanol.

The oleates, palmitates and stearates or the solvent plasticizers.

Butyl ether of ethylene glycol stearate H30-(OH2)2-CHg-OCHrCHg-O-C-CHa-(CHfl)n-CHzCHa ll Methyl ether of ethylene glycol palmitate. H COCHzCHzOfi-CHz(CH2)12-*CH;CH3

The esters of ricinoleic acid, in which the hydroxy group of that acid is esterified or the dou- -ble bond thereof is saturated with chlorine or HCl, are generally useful here. That is, in addition to the acetylated ricinoleic acid the hydrochloride or di-chloride of ricinoleic acid may be employed to prepare suitable esters which are For instance, methyl chlorricinoleate has substantial solvent power for rubber chloride. That is, some of the esters of simple alcohols, such as methyl, ethyl, etc., are also useful for the present purposes. Methyl and ethyl palmitates have sufficient solvent power for rubber chloride to render their addition to the varnish worth while in some cases. However, as stated ante, the esters which contain an ether group or halogen atom in addition to the ester group, are ordinarily employed; they having marked solvent action on rubber chloride.

As a general rule, esters containing one or more chlorine atoms, either on the acid side or on the alcohol side, are better solvent plasticizers than the same type of compound without the chlorine.

An ester of glycerin dichlorhydrin is also an ester of dichlor-propane, which is itself an excellent solvent for rubber chloride. The presence of ring groups on either side of an ester also aids miscibility.

The following example is illustrative of one liquid composition:

Example 1 Into a suitable container equipped with agitating means are introduced 1000 parts by weight of toluol and 240 parts of Xylol. To this mixed solvent, 420 parts of rubber chloride are added. The rubber chloride being bulky, it is best to add it gradually. During addition, agitation is continued until a uniform liquid composition is obtained. The solution thus obtained has a viscosity of 50 seconds and is usually thinned with more solvent to produce coating compositions to be used by brushing or spraying.

In making a brushing composition, the liquid is first thinned with 240 parts of solvent naphtha in which has been dissolved 104 parts of cumarindene resin. Then parts methoxyethyl oleate are added (23.8 per cent of oleate on rubber chloride byweight). The-mixtureis stirred until uniformity isobtained andit has a viscosity of 28 seconds. In the form of thin films, it readily dries in about 0.5 hour at ordinary temperatures. Warming expedites removal of the volatile thinners.

The added resin serves to increase the adhesion of the composition to metals, etc., and the oleate plasticizes the rubber chloride, rendering the filmsfor-med from it flexible and non-brittle. In lieu. of the stated oleate, the other alkoxy aliphatic esters of fatty acids which are liquid and have a'relatively high boiling point may be used.

Sometimes, it isdesirabl'e to form coating compositions which are somewhat more viscous and which can be applied by roll coating methods to the material to be coated, such as paper or other sheetLmaterial. The following exampleis illustrative of such compositions:

I Example 2 For coating paper, 105 parts of. rubber chloride are dissolved in a mixture of coal tar hydrocarbons comprising 60 parts of benzol, 180 parts of toluol and 60 parts of xylol; all parts by weight. To this solution, there are added 26-parts of cumar-indene resin and 30 partsof methoxyethyl oleate. This mixture is heated under reflux with agitation until a uniform liquid is obtained. When- 'a'pplied to paper, the coating dries quickly at ordinary temperatures and yields a coated paper which isyin addition to being acid and alkali resistant, also moisture proof. The composi tion 'contains'fib per cent of the oleate or approximately 28.5 per cent of solvent plasticizer on the rubber'chloride by weight; about 7 .4 per centofthc oleate-being added to the varnish base or rubber chloride solution.

In lieu of the methoxyethyl oleate, other solvent type plasticizers may be used; for instance, the corresponding stearate. As stated ante, there can ordinarily be added 2 to 10 parts of solvent plasticizer to the rubber chloride varnish andin the above example it may be so varied. The amount-of plasticizer shouldbe adjusted in any particular compositionso that the final filmcontainssufficientplasticizer to render the coating non-brittle; but not enough to give permanent tackiness.

Another plasticizer of the solvent type, particularly useful, is butoxyethyl stearate and' it may be employed in Examples 1 and 2. It has a somewhat 'higherboiling'point and lower vapor tension than the methoxyethyl oleate andis advantageous in films which in use are subjected to somewhat elevated temperatures.

Other high boiling plasticizers, such as the oleates, palmitates, laurates, stearates and other fatty esters, as stated, may be used.

Inall these compositions, the rubber chloride made by the method described in application, Serial No. 62,547; (now Patent 2,148,830) is particularly-clesirable. It is a standardized material free of unstable by-products, and the viscosity relations of the solutions are satisfactory; But other kinds of rubber chloride may be used. The solvent plasticizers mentioned hereinabove are eflicientwith any solutions of rubber chloride, including the commercial varieties heretofore available, but they are most eflicient with the rubber: chloride made in the manner described in. said "application, Serial No. 62,547, because of its uniformity andhomogeneity. By milling, disaggregating, drying and chlorinating as there described, a material is made. which is homogeneous and like in character throughout; there are: no-

portions exhibiting difierent properties towards the solvent plasticizer. It is easier to obtaina uniform coating composition with rubber. chloride of such nature. However, as stated, the above-mentioned solvent plasticizers are advantageous with any rubber chloride. 7

It is found in practice that by the addition of solvent plasticizers of the type described, it is possible to improve varnishes containing the ordinary commercial plasticizers, such as tricresyl phosphate. While itis difiicult althoughnot impossible, to make useful preparations with rubber chloride solutions and tricresyl phosphate alone, the presence of one of the solvent plasticizers mentioned markedly improves their homogeneity. Good compositions can be easily made. containing a little solvent plasticizer to modify a considerable proportion of tricresyl phosphate. This is economical from the point of cost.

The proportion of the solvent plasticizer used varies with the. character of finalproduct desired and also with the individual plasticizers. However, in the case of butyl cellosolve stearate, itis found that 15 per cent added to-a solution of rubber chloride in a temporary solvent, such as coal tar oil, after removal of that solvent, yields a rather stiff but non-brittle. film capable of resisting repeated bending. By raising the proportion of the stearate from 15 per cent to. 25. per cent, a softer film is obtained; these per.- centages being based upon the rubber, chloride itself.

It will be noted that in this rather long list of tives of glycerine, in which two of the alcoholic hydroxyl groups normally present are replaced by chlorine. Others of these solvent plasticizers are esters of alkyl ethers derived from ethylene glycol, in which one of thealcoholic hydroxyl groups normally present is replaced by an ether group. In both of these types of esters, the al.- coholic constituent or residue is a mono-hydric derivative of a polyhydric alcohol (glycol or glycerin) and carries at least one substitutent group (halogen or ether) on a carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom in the ester linkage. Similar bodies in which the ester group and the substituent group are not adjacent, such as ether-esters of symmetrical propylene glycol, while good solvent plasticizers, are not as useful, being less resistant to hydrolysis and other chemical actions than the substances in which the two groups are adjacent,

What is claimed is:

1. In the manufacture ofv rubber chloride varnishes, the improvement which comprises adding to a solution of rubber chloride in a volatile'solvent, a solvent plasticizer capable of dissolving the rubber chloride, saidplasticizer being tained by evaporation of the said volatile solvent.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein said solvent plasticizer is added in a proportion from 5 per cent to 30 per cent on the rubber chloride.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said solvent plasticizer is a chlorinated monobasic aliphatic ester of an alkyl ether of ethylene glycol.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein said solvent plasticizer is an aliphatic ester of glycerin dichlorhydrin.

5. A plastic rubber chloride composition consisting essentially of rubber chloride and a sol- Vent plasticizer therefor, said plasticizer being selected from the class of liquid esters of monohydric derivatives of polyhydric alcohols having a substituent on, at least one carbon atom adjacent to the ester group, and consisting of esters of glycerin dichlorhydrin containing not more than two esters groups, and mono-basic aliphatic esters of alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol, said plasticizer being present in an amount from 5 to 30 per cent by weight on the rubber chloride.

6. The composition of claim 5 dissolved in a volatile solvent to form a varnish.

7. As a new composition of matter, a plasticized rubber chloride preparation comprising rubber chloride, a solvent therefor, and from 5 to 30 per cent on the rubber chloride of a high boiling monobasic aliphatic ester of an ether alcohol constituting a miscible chemically inert solvent plasticizer for the composition, and permanent in air; the said ether ester plasticizer being incorporated in the said rubber chloride to form a unitary composition which is thermoplastic after removal of said solvent.

8. The composition of claim I, wherein said ether ester is butyl cellosolve stearate.

MARGARET R. NORTH.

North, Deceased. 

